Pallet tiering frame

ABSTRACT

A pallet tiering frame adapted for detachable engagement upon a storage pallet and incorporating structural components for simultaneously defining a loading zone, as well as support for overlying pallets; said frame being provided with uprights having foot members for positive engagement upon the pallet so as to render said frame stable against multidirectional forces applied during usage.

United States Patent Thomas N. DePew 2,991,033 7/1961 3,114,339 12/1963 Bayluk 3,159,116 12/1964 Skubie..... 3,249,072 5/1966 Skubie.....

[72] Inventor l0 Sunningdale, St. Louis, Mo. 63124 {21 Appl. N 0. 754,939 [22] Filed Aug. 23, 1968 [45] Patented Apr. 27, 19.71

3,289,613 12/1966 Evans.................::::::::::

Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay

[ 54 PALLET TIERING FRAME Assistant Examiner-Glenn O. Finch Attorney-Ralph W. Kalish 7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

108/53 565d 19/18 ABSTRACT: A pallet tiering frame adapted for detachable 108/5 l-58 engagement upon a storage pallet and incorporating structural components for simultaneously defining a loading zone, as

[51] Int. [50] References Cited well as support for overlying pallets; said frame being provided UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,828,933 4/1958 DePew et with uprights having foot members for positive engagement against 108/55 upon the pallet so as to render said frame stable 108/53 multidirectional forces applied during usage.

2,932,477 4/1960 Franks..........................

PATENTED APR27 Ian MMMMAMQK FIG. 5

lNlVENTOR THOMAS N. DEPEW BY QM W ATTORN EY PALLET TIERING FRAME BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to pallet tiering or stacking frames and, more particularly, to frames of the character equipped with foot members for positive engagement upon components of a pallet in its comer portions. Pallet tiering frames of the general type herein disclosed are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,828,932; 2,828,933; 2,940,706; 2,942,826; and others.

The problem continually besetting the industry is the development of a foot member which is so uniquely contrived as to render the tiering frame stable, regardless substantially of the direction of any forces that may be applied thereon during usage, such as, through accidental contact with forklift trucks, over or imbalanced loads, etc.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pallet tiering frame having a foot member which is engageable with the comer portion of each pallet and uniquely designed for gripping engagement with the adjacent pallet components so as to effectively resist dislodgment under forces received during usage.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pallet tiering frame of the type stated having foot members with predetermined configurations for engagement with portions of the related pallet and having leg members under a normal bias perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said leg members for cooperating with said foot members to bring about snug engagement with the pallet.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a a pallet tiering frame which may be easily installed upon, and removed from, a loading pallet so as to obviate the necessity of services of skilled personnel; which tiering frames may be most economically produced; and which tiering frames are stable,'reliable, and durable in usage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pallet tiering frame constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention, illustrating said frame in mounted, operative disposition upon a pallet.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a foot member in engaged disposition, being an enlargement of the foot member shown in the right-hand corner of the pallet in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a foot member as considered at an angle of approximately 180 to that shown in FIG. 2 or, in the alternative, may be considered an enlargement of the foot member shown in the left-hand comer of the pallet illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a foot member illustrating a view thereof substantially intermediate the view shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, or, may be in the alternative considered an enlarged view of the foot member shown in the lower central portion of the pallet illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 66 of FIG. I but illustrating a tiering frame component in partially engaged condition upon the pallet.

FIG. 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 1 illustrating a tiering frame component in fully operative, engaged condition upon the pallet.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now by reference characters to the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of the present invention, 1 generally designates a conventional storage pallet having parallel side or outer stringers 2,2, a central or inner stringer 3, and upper and lower decks or platforms 4,5, respectively, comprised of spaced-apart parallel boards which are in axially normal relationship to stringers 2, 2', 3, and being suitably secured thereto, as by nails. The end boards of upper deck 4, as indicated at 6, are normally of slightly greater width than the remaining boards of such deck. It is to be pointed out, however, that pallet I is not considered a part of the present invention but is merely representative of storage pallets in general, and although being illustrated as of the double-deck, flush-stringer type, may, if desired, be of other well-known designs. Said pallet 1 is merely representative of storage pallets in general and is set forth herein for the purposes of describing the present invention.

Provided for detachable installation upon pallet l is a tiering frame, generally designated F, comprising uprights or posts 7, which may be fabricated of any suitable stock, such as tubing. Posts 7, which when in operative disposition are disposed in the comer portions of the upper deck 4 of pallet I, are interconnected at their upper ends by means of a top member, indicated 8, which is substantially in planar parallel relationship to pallet 1 and which comprehends horizontally presented legs 9, each of which, at its outer end, is fixed, as by welding or the like, upon the upper end of an associated post 7. Legs 9 are adapted for suitable integration to render top member 8 fully stable. Although there are numerous manners in which legs 9 may be so integrated, one such method is illustrated in FIG. 1 wherein tiering frame F is comprised of a pair of identical components M. Each frame component M incorporates a top member element 10 which is of generally U-shape having a pair of legs 9 with the latter being at their inner ends continuous with an intermediate section 11 substantially parallel to stringers 2, 2', 3, and in overlying relationship to the central portion of pallet I. Said intermediate sections 11 of each element 10 are adapted to be in abutting relationship when said frame F is operatively disposed and there being suitable interengaging elements, such as pins and cooperative receptacles, as of the type generally shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,828,933. It is to be understood, however, that top member 8 is merely exemplary of top member constructions since it is apparent that comparable structures may be used with equal facility for interconnecting the components M of frame MF.

Posts 7 of each component M are resilient about their point of securement to their respective leg 9 for limited relative mobility within a path generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said legs 9 or in a substantially horizontal direction; said posts being biased toward each other in their lower portions. As alternatively stated, the said posts 7 are toed out at their upper ends so that nonnally the lower end portions of said posts 7 in each tiering component M will be directed toward each other with the distance therebetween being less than the length of the intervening dimension of pallet l at the ends of which the related posts will be disposed when frame F is engaged thereon.

Mounted at the lower end of each post 7 for the purpose of engaging frame F upon pallet l is a foot member 12 having a flat plate 13 fixed to the lower end of the related post 7, as by welding, and presented for flatwise disposition upon the upper surface of the end portion of the related end deck board 6.

It is to be recognized that the foot members 12 are sized for accommodating the particular dimensions of the deck boards and stringers incorporated within pallet 1 so that the ensuing description of the constituents of each foot member 12 will be recognized as being of predetermined size for the particular application.

Each plate portion comprises parallel inner and outer end margins 14,15, respectively, which extend transversely of the related deck board 6 with the with the former being located spacedly from the end edge of said deck board 6 and the latter coinciding with said deck board end edge, from the outer extremity thereof to a point, as at 15', spacedly from the opposite extremity. Each plate portion 13 also comprehends parallel outer and inner side margins 16,17, respectively, the former extending between end margins 14,15 for disposition coincidental with the outer edge of the upper face of the related deck board 6 while the latter, being of relatively less extent, is continuous from end margin 14 to a point spaced inwardly from the end face of said deck. board but overlying the upper face of the adjacent stringer 2. Said inner side margin 17 at its end remote from end margin 14 is connected to outer end margin 15 at point 15' by an oblique edge 18. Thus, plate 13 is shown as being of five-sided character but it is to be appreciated that the same might be, if desired, or quadrilateral fonn, although requiring greater use of material without additional operational benefit.

Each plate portion 13 embodies a finger 19 depending from inner side margin 17 having a length no greater, but preferably slightly less, than the thickness of the related deck board 6. The outer side face 20 of finger 19 may be, for simplicity of fabrication, upwardly and outwardly inclined for continuity with oblique margin 18.

Depending from outer end margin 15 in planar perpendicular relationship thereto is a flange 22, one vertical side edge of which substantially overlies the confronting side edge of the end face of the related stringer, as at c, and which edge is welded or otherwise rigid with the adjacent side edge of a flange 23 projecting downwardly from plate 13 along outer side margin 16. As shown, the other side edge of flange 22 may be of inclined character for continuity with oblique margin 18 so as to allow for ease of manufacture. Flange 23 has a width substantially the same as that of the end face of the adjacent stringer 2 against which said flange is to be presented during usage. Accordingly, flanges 22 and 23 are in planar normal relationship and by reason of their joinder effect the development of a comer, the sides of which engage stringer 2 along related face portions. Turned from the lower portion of the side edge of flange 23 remote from its edge adjoined to flange 22, is a leg 24 which is in parallel relationship to flange 22; said leg 24 being of relatively reduced vertical extent so that its upper edge will be normally spaced from the under face of the overlying deck board 6 for purposes presently appearing. Plate section 13 between outer side margin 16 and leg 24 is cut away as at 25 to permit of ease of disposition of leg 24 in operative position, that is, being of such extent, with sufficient distance between leg 24 and the underface of the proximate deck board, so as to allow requisite clearance for finger 19 to be moved across the upper surface of said deck board 6 in traveling toward and away from engaged disposition, as is indicated in FIG. 5. From the foregoing it is apparent that leg 24 and flanges 22,23 cooperate to define a generally U-shaped bracket, comprehensively indicated b, for embracing the end portion of the proximate stringer 2.

In installing frame F upon pallet l, the user will present one of said frame components M to pallet 1 so that the foot members 12 of the contained posts 7 are disposed in adjacency to the ends of the related stringer 2. Thereon one foot member 12 is engaged by causing its bracket b to receive the presented end of said stringer 2. Such engagement, which will be snug due to proper dimensioning, will allow finger 19 to be disposed beyond the inner side edge of the adjacent outer deck board 6 so that the same may be slipped downwardly into adjacency to the inner edge of deck board 6. With one of said foot members 12 so engaged, an outwardly directed pressure is applied against the companion post 7 as shown at the right-hand side of HO. 5, causing its bracket b to be momentarily located beyond the other end of the related stringer 2 for suitable alignment therewith. Release of such pressure will permit said bracket b to snappingly embrace the stringer end 2 with plate portion 13 being moved transversely inwardly of the respective deck board 6, presenting the related finger 19 in confronting relationship to the deck board inner side face. Frame component M is thus in fully installed position and will unsupportedly remain substantially upright during the completion of the installation of frame F which encompasses mounting of the companion frame component M in like manner upon the opposite deck board 6, and with the respective top members 8 being suitably interengaged such as in the manner set forth and described in US. Pat. Nos. 2,828,932 and 2,828,933, and others.

As so mounted, it will be seen that posts 7 are resistant to displacement regardless of the direction of pressure applied thereon. Finger 19, together with flange 23, being located on opposite sides of the related deck board 6, limit movement of plate 13 transversely thereof. Flange 22 and leg 24 grippingly engage opposite sides of stringer 2 and thus effectively prevent any displacement of posts 7 in a direction lengthwise of deck boards 6. From the foregoing, it is apparent that finger 19 is not necessarily presented so as to abut the adjacent deck board but is presented for detaining engagement therewith so as to prevent any unauthorized outwardly directed travel of said plate 13. Accordingly, finger 19, leg 24, and flanges 22,23 cooperate to inhibit movement in any direction within the general plane of pallet 1. Any upwardly directed force upon the frame components M which might normally tend to cause an outward pivoting of posts 7 in their upper portions would be resisted by abutment between the upper edge of leg 24 and the underface of deck board 6. The inherent inward bias of posts 7 in their lower portions serve to stabilize foot members 12 as well as to urge brackets 1; into right reception on pallet 1 enhancing the resistance of said posts 7 to undesired movement or dislocation during usage.

lclaim:

1. A tiering frame adapted for use with a storage pallet having a plurality of spaced-apart deck boards secured upon axially parallel stringers, said tiering frame comprising a top member, a plurality of posts depending from said top member for disposition at the comers of said pallet when in operative position, a foot member provided on the lower end of each post for mounting same upon the corners of said pallet, each foot member comprising a flat plate for flatwise disposition upon the upper surface of the end portion of an end deck board, said plate having inner and outer parallel end margins, said inner end margin having an extent substantially equivalent to the width of the related deck board, said plate further having inner and outer parallel side margins, a first flange depending from said outer end margin for disposition against the confronting end surface of the related end deck board and side surface of the proximate stringer, said outer side margin having a second flange for disposition against the confronting side face of said deck board and the end surface of the proximate stringer, said first and second flanges being rigidly interconnected for forming a joint for overlying the outer comer edge of said stringer, a finger depending from said inner side margin for disposition adjacent the inner side face of said deck board.

2. A tiering frame as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said finger depending from said inner side margin adjacent said inner end margin.

3. A tiering frame adapted for use with a storage pallet having a plurality of spaced-apart deck boards secured upon axially parallel stringers, said tiering frame comprising a top member, a plurality of posts depending from said top member for disposition at the corners of said pallet when in operative position, a foot member provided on the lower end of each post for mounting same upon the comers of said pallet, each foot member comprising a flat plate for flatwise disposition upon the upper surface of the end portion of an end deck board, said plate having outer side and end margins, a first flange depending from said outer end margin for disposition against the confronting end surface of the related end deck board and side surface of the proximate stringer, a second flange depending from said outer side margin for disposition against the confronting side face of said deck board and the end surface of the proximate stringer, said first and second flanges being rigidly interconnected for forming a joint for overlying the outer corner edge of said stringer, said plate having an inner side margin, a finger depending from said inner side margin for disposition adjacent the inner side face of said deck board, said second flange having a transverse extent substantially the same as that of the proximate stringer, a leg formed at the lower end of said second flange and turned inwardly therefrom in a direction toward the inner portion of the pallet, said leg being in planar parallel relationship to said first flange so as to define therewith and with said second flange, a generally U-shpaed bracket for engaging the stringer end portion.

4. A tiering frame as defined in claim 3 and further characterized by said leg being located downwardly of said flat plate for disposition when engaged in spaced relationship to the under surface of the overlying deck board.

5. A tiering frame adapted for use with a storage pallet having a plurality of spaced-apart deck boards secured upon axially parallel stringers, said tiering frame comprising a top member, a plurality of posts depending from said top member for disposition at the corners of said pallet when in operative position, a foot member provided on the lower end of each post for mounting same upon the corners of said pallet, each foot member comprising a flat plate for flatwise disposition upon the upper surface of the end portion of an end deck board, a first flange depending from said plate, a second flange depending from said plate, said first and second flanges being rigidly interconnected for forming a joint for overlying the outer comer edge of said stringer, said plate having an inner side margin, a finger depending from said inner side margin for disposition adjacent the inner side face of said deck board, said post being biased inwardly at the lower ends so that when said posts are in disengaged condition the distance between the lower ends will be normally less than the distance between said posts when engaged upon said pallet.

6. The tiering frame adapted for use with a storage pallet comprising a top member, a plurality of posts depending from said top member for disposition at the comers of said pallet, a foot member provided on the lower end of each post for mounting same upon the adjacent portion of said pallet, each foot member comprising a flat plate portion for flatwise disposition upon the upper surfaces of said pallet, said plate having parallel inner and outer end margins, said plate further having parallel inner and outer side margins, a first flange depending from said outer end margin, a second flange depending from said outer side margin, said first and second flanges being interconnected for receiving a comer portion of said pallet, a finger depending downwardly from said inner side margin, a leg provided on said second flange and being disposed in planar parallel relationship to said first flange for defining with said first and second flanges a generally U- shaped bracket, said leg being of less height than said second flange whereby the upper edge of said leg is presented spacedly downwardly of said plate portion, and said finger and said leg being in planar perpendicular relationship.

7. A tiering frame as defined in claim 6 and further characterized by said posts being biased inwardly at their lower ends so that adjacent posts are urged toward each other with the intervening distance when in inoperative position being less than the intervening portion of an engaged pallet. 

1. A tiering frame adapted for use with a storage pallet having a plurality of spaced-apart deck boards secured upon axially parallel stringers, said tiering frame comprising a top member, a plurality of posts depending from said top member for disposition at the corners of said pallet when in operative position, a foot member provided on the lower end of each post for mounting same upon the corners of said pallet, each foot member comprising a flat plate for flatwise disposition upon the upper surface of the end portion of an end deck board, said plate having inner and outer parallel end margins, said inner end margin having an extent substantially equivalent to the width of the related deck board, said plate further having inner and outer parallel side margins, a first flange depending from said outer end margin for disposition against the confronting end surface of the related end deck board and side surface of the proximate stringer, said outer side margin having a second flange for disposition against the confronting side face of said deck board and the end surface of the proximate stringer, said first and second flanges being rigidly interconnected for forming a joint for overlying the outer corner edge of said stringer, a finger depending from said inner side margin for disposition adjaceNt the inner side face of said deck board.
 2. A tiering frame as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said finger depending from said inner side margin adjacent said inner end margin.
 3. A tiering frame adapted for use with a storage pallet having a plurality of spaced-apart deck boards secured upon axially parallel stringers, said tiering frame comprising a top member, a plurality of posts depending from said top member for disposition at the corners of said pallet when in operative position, a foot member provided on the lower end of each post for mounting same upon the corners of said pallet, each foot member comprising a flat plate for flatwise disposition upon the upper surface of the end portion of an end deck board, said plate having outer side and end margins, a first flange depending from said outer end margin for disposition against the confronting end surface of the related end deck board and side surface of the proximate stringer, a second flange depending from said outer side margin for disposition against the confronting side face of said deck board and the end surface of the proximate stringer, said first and second flanges being rigidly interconnected for forming a joint for overlying the outer corner edge of said stringer, said plate having an inner side margin, a finger depending from said inner side margin for disposition adjacent the inner side face of said deck board, said second flange having a transverse extent substantially the same as that of the proximate stringer, a leg formed at the lower end of said second flange and turned inwardly therefrom in a direction toward the inner portion of the pallet, said leg being in planar parallel relationship to said first flange so as to define therewith and with said second flange, a generally U-shpaed bracket for engaging the stringer end portion.
 4. A tiering frame as defined in claim 3 and further characterized by said leg being located downwardly of said flat plate for disposition when engaged in spaced relationship to the under surface of the overlying deck board.
 5. A tiering frame adapted for use with a storage pallet having a plurality of spaced-apart deck boards secured upon axially parallel stringers, said tiering frame comprising a top member, a plurality of posts depending from said top member for disposition at the corners of said pallet when in operative position, a foot member provided on the lower end of each post for mounting same upon the corners of said pallet, each foot member comprising a flat plate for flatwise disposition upon the upper surface of the end portion of an end deck board, a first flange depending from said plate, a second flange depending from said plate, said first and second flanges being rigidly interconnected for forming a joint for overlying the outer corner edge of said stringer, said plate having an inner side margin, a finger depending from said inner side margin for disposition adjacent the inner side face of said deck board, said post being biased inwardly at the lower ends so that when said posts are in disengaged condition the distance between the lower ends will be normally less than the distance between said posts when engaged upon said pallet.
 6. The tiering frame adapted for use with a storage pallet comprising a top member, a plurality of posts depending from said top member for disposition at the corners of said pallet, a foot member provided on the lower end of each post for mounting same upon the adjacent portion of said pallet, each foot member comprising a flat plate portion for flatwise disposition upon the upper surfaces of said pallet, said plate having parallel inner and outer end margins, said plate further having parallel inner and outer side margins, a first flange depending from said outer end margin, a second flange depending from said outer side margin, said first and second flanges being interconnected for receiving a corner portion of said pallet, a finger depending downwardly from said inner side margin, a leg proVided on said second flange and being disposed in planar parallel relationship to said first flange for defining with said first and second flanges a generally U-shaped bracket, said leg being of less height than said second flange whereby the upper edge of said leg is presented spacedly downwardly of said plate portion, and said finger and said leg being in planar perpendicular relationship.
 7. A tiering frame as defined in claim 6 and further characterized by said posts being biased inwardly at their lower ends so that adjacent posts are urged toward each other with the intervening distance when in inoperative position being less than the intervening portion of an engaged pallet. 